Physical Therapist vs Private Investigator

Side-by-side license comparison

Live DataLast updated: April 13, 2026·Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards

Quick Verdict

Higher Earning

Physical Therapist

Easier to Obtain

Private Investigator

Lower Fee

Private Investigator

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Physical Therapist	Private Investigator
Category	Healthcare	Public Safety
Median Salary	$99,710	$59,380
Avg Initial Fee	$313	$253
Difficulty	High	Medium
Education	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)	Varies (often experience-based)
Exam	NPTE	State PI Exam (where required)
Time to License	7 years	1-3 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	12 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	33 of 53

Salary Comparison

Physical Therapist

Median Salary$99,710

Avg Salary$99,710

Avg License Fee$313

Private Investigator

Median Salary$59,380

Avg Salary$59,380

Avg License Fee$253

Physical Therapist earns $40,330 more per year on average. Over a 10-year career span, that adds up to approximately $403,300 in additional earnings.

Explore Each Occupation

Physical TherapistView all 53 state requirements Private InvestigatorView all 53 state requirements

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LicenseWize Editorial TeamData Specialists

The LicenseWize editorial team aggregates and verifies licenses data from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards. Every statistic on this site is cross-referenced against the official source before publication, with quarterly re-verification cycles.

✓ Sourced from Bureau of Labor Statistics & State Licensing Boards✓ Quarterly review✓ No paid placements

Read our full methodology or contact us with corrections.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which pays more: Physical Therapist or Private Investigator?

Physical Therapist has a higher median salary at $99,710 per year, compared to $59,380 for Private Investigator — a difference of $40,330 annually.

Is it harder to get licensed as a Physical Therapist or a Private Investigator?

Physical Therapist licensing is rated High difficulty, while Private Investigator is rated Medium. Physical Therapist requires DPT (3 years post-bachelor) and typically takes 7 years, compared to Varies (often experience-based) and 1-3 years for Private Investigator.

Which license costs more: Physical Therapist or Private Investigator?

Physical Therapist has a higher average initial fee of $313, while Private Investigator averages $253 — a difference of $60.

Do all states require a license for Physical Therapist and Private Investigator?

Physical Therapist requires licensing in 53 of 53 jurisdictions, while Private Investigator requires it in 33 of 53 jurisdictions. Requirements vary significantly by state.

Which career is faster to enter: Physical Therapist or Private Investigator?

Physical Therapist typically takes 7 years from start to licensure, while Private Investigator takes 1-3 years. Consider both the time investment and earning potential when making your decision.

Detailed Comparison

Metric	Physical Therapist	Private Investigator
Category	Healthcare	Public Safety
Median Salary	$99,710	$59,380
Avg Initial Fee	$313	$253
Difficulty	High	Medium
Education	DPT (3 years post-bachelor)	Varies (often experience-based)
Exam	NPTE	State PI Exam (where required)
Time to License	7 years	1-3 years
Renewal Period	Every 2 yr	Every 2 yr
CE Hours / Cycle	30 hrs	12 hrs
States Requiring	53 of 53	33 of 53